Road Accident Fund (RAF) in 2026: New CEO, Legislative Reforms, Funding Crisis & What You Need to Know

The Road Accident Fund (RAF) is once again at the centre of South Africa’s public discourse. From a new CEO appointment and sweeping legislative amendments to a government funding freeze and a landmark Supreme Court ruling, October 2026 has been a pivotal month for the embattled fund. Here is a comprehensive overview of the latest developments and what they mean for road accident victims, claimants, and South African motorists.

1. New CEO Appointed: Waseem Carrim Takes the Wheel

In one of the most significant leadership changes at the RAF in recent years, Cabinet announced on 29 September 2026 that Waseem Carrim has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Road Accident Fund. Carrim, a Chartered Accountant and former acting CEO of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), officially takes office on 1 November 2026.

Carrim becomes the fifth RAF CEO in just over a year, stepping into a role that has seen considerable management instability. He replaces Collins Letsoalo, whose five-year tenure was marred by controversy, including allegations of fostering a culture of fear, excessive personal security spending, and a controversial lease deal that led to his suspension.

Speaking on his appointment, Carrim acknowledged the scale of the challenge ahead, describing the issues at the fund as “not insurmountable” while vowing to tackle the “low trust” that has come to define public perception of the RAF. He has also argued that governance changes alone will not resolve the fund’s deep-rooted problems — structural and legislative reforms are equally critical.

At the time of his appointment, the RAF had 301,203 open claims as of 30 June 2026, highlighting the enormous backlog facing the incoming CEO.

2. SCOPA Inquiry: Governance Failures Under the Microscope

Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) has been conducting an extensive inquiry into the RAF’s governance, financial management, and administration. A draft SCOPA report has flagged serious concerns, including:

• Excessive and questionable security spending under former CEO Letsoalo.
• The revelation that Letsoalo was never vetted by the State Security Agency during his entire five-year tenure as CEO.
• Concerns over procurement irregularities, legal costs, audit outcomes, and weak internal controls.
• Reports that the RAF paid R291 million to 16 employees who were suspended with pay.

The SCOPA inquiry has intensified calls for urgent reform and has placed the RAF under unprecedented parliamentary scrutiny. The Association for the Protection of Road Accident Victims has also called for comprehensive reforms to improve governance and the claims process.

3. No Additional Government Funding for the RAF

In a significant policy announcement on 13 October 2026, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy confirmed that the RAF will not receive additional government funding. The Minister also rejected the RAF’s proposal to increase the fuel levy by R3 per litre, citing the financial pressure already faced by South African motorists.

Minister Creecy stated that the priority is to address the fund’s management and financial challenges from within, rather than injecting more public money into a structurally flawed system. She noted that a new CEO has been appointed and that the process of appointing a permanent board is underway.

The RAF has been under severe financial pressure, with ongoing concerns about its ability to meet its claims obligations. The Minister also emphasised that legislative changes are needed to establish a clear schedule of benefits and to make the fund more sustainable.

4. RAF Act Amendments on the Way: Key Changes Proposed

The Portfolio Committee on Transport heard on 6 October 2026 that amendments to the RAF Act are being finalised and will soon be tabled before the committee. The Department of Transport’s acting Director-General, Mokonyama Mathabatha, outlined four key areas of proposed amendment:

1. Capped Claims — Introducing limits on the quantum of claims to improve financial sustainability.
2. Rehabilitation — Shifting focus towards rehabilitation-based support for accident victims.
3. Mediation and Conciliation — Introducing alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to reduce costly litigation.
4. Claims by Foreign Nationals — Addressing the contentious issue of RAF benefits being paid to undocumented foreign nationals, following court rulings that directed such payments.

Committee member Mr Thalente Kubheka raised strong objections to the payment of RAF benefits to undocumented individuals, calling it a “tax burden on South Africans” and urging the Minister and Director-General to amend the RAF Act accordingly.

The acting DG confirmed: “The Act in its current form makes the scheme not sustainable.”

5. Transport Committee: RAF Is on the Road to Recovery

Despite the challenges, the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Transport, Mr Donald Selamolela, offered a more optimistic outlook in February 2026, stating that the RAF is “on the road to recovery”.

Selamolela acknowledged that the RAF is a “challenged entity” beset by historical problems, but expressed satisfaction that governance improvements are underway. He called on the department to speed up legislative reviews to close loopholes and urged a shift in public perception towards recognising the RAF as an important service delivery mechanism for road accident victims.

Deputy Minister of Transport Mr Mkhuleko Hlengwa likened the reform process to “fixing an aeroplane while airborne” — a complex but necessary undertaking.

6. Supreme Court Ruling: Revert to the 2008 RAF 1 Form

A landmark Supreme Court of Appeal judgement on 30 April 2026 directed the RAF to revert to the 2008 RAF 1 Form for claims processing. This ruling has significant implications for claimants:

• Previously rejected claims that met the minimum legal requirements under Section 24 of the RAF Act will be accepted for re-processing using the 2008 form.
• This applies to claims lodged from 6 May 2022 onwards.
• Claims previously submitted and accepted using the 2022 RAF 1 Form do not need to be resubmitted.
• Claims previously rejected will not prescribe up to and including 30 September 2026, retaining their original submission date.

The RAF has urged claimants to allow sufficient time for processing due to the expected influx of re-lodgements. For queries, claimants can contact the RAF Contact Centre on 087 820 1 111 (Monday to Friday, 07:45–16:00), WhatsApp at 071 605 4707, SMS on 44930, or email at contactcentre@raf.co.za.

Key Takeaways for RAF Claimants and South African Motorists

• ✅ New leadership is in place — Waseem Carrim takes over as CEO on 1 November 2026.
• ✅ Legislative reforms are imminent — amendments to the RAF Act covering capped claims, rehabilitation, mediation, and foreign national claims are being finalised.
• ✅ No fuel levy increase — the government has rejected the RAF’s proposal to raise the fuel levy.
• ✅ No additional government bailout — the RAF must resolve its financial challenges internally.
• ✅ Supreme Court ruling means previously rejected claims may now be re-lodged using the 2008 RAF 1 Form.
• ✅ SCOPA oversight continues — Parliament is actively monitoring the RAF’s governance and financial management.

How to Lodge a Road Accident Fund Claim

If you or a loved one has been injured in a road accident in South Africa, you may be entitled to compensation from the RAF. Here’s how to get started:

1. Complete the RAF 1 Form (2008 version, as per the Supreme Court ruling).
2. Gather supporting documents: police report, medical records, proof of income (if claiming for loss of earnings).
3. Submit your claim to the nearest RAF office or via post.
4. Contact the RAF Contact Centre on 087 820 1 111 for guidance.
5. Consider consulting a personal injury attorney to ensure your claim is correctly lodged and maximised.

Note: Claims are subject to prescription periods. Do not delay in lodging your claim.

Conclusion

The Road Accident Fund remains one of South Africa’s most critical — and most troubled — public institutions. With a new CEO at the helm, sweeping legislative reforms on the horizon, and Parliament keeping a close watch through SCOPA, 2026 could prove to be a turning point for the RAF. However, the road to recovery will require more than leadership changes: it demands structural reform, financial discipline, and a genuine commitment to serving the millions of South Africans who depend on the fund after life-altering road accidents.

Stay informed and check back regularly for the latest updates on the Road Accident Fund.

Sources: Parliament of South Africa, AllAfrica, IOL, Moonstone, News24, Moneyweb — October 2026.